Baseball and softball target Paris 2024 and LA 2028

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LIMA: Baseball and softball's chances of continuing as Olympic sports increased considerably on Wednesday after the city of Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 Olympic Games.

The two sports, which were thrown out of the Olympics after 2008, will make a one-off comeback at the 2020 Games in Tokyo - in a country where they are hugely popular - after organisers requested their inclusion under new International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules.

But Los Angeles' success at the IOC session could see the Olympic life of the sports extended, with moves from the sports' confederation for them to be included in Paris, which was awarded the 2024 Olympics on Wednesday, as well as Los Angeles, where the sports are well established.

"This is a historic day for the Olympic movement, and a great day for baseball and softball," said World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari.

"Today’s decision by the IOC adds immense potential for baseball and softball to remain on the programme beyond the Tokyo 2020 Games."

Fraccari said the WBSC would now seek official inclusion in both the Paris and the Los Angeles Games sports programme.

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"Our first step in the coming weeks and months will be communicating to the IOC and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee how our sports can contribute to a spectacular Games and to the development of sport in France."

Baseball and softball were the first sports to be taken off the Olympic programme in 69 years when the IOC voted to exclude them in 2005 from the London 2012 Games.

"Baseball in the United States is the national pastime, while in Europe, baseball and softball’s numbers and competitiveness are steadily rising," he told Reuters.

"The International Olympic Committee is focussed on youth appeal, and with our sport’s growing global footprint ... I am confident that no matter where the Olympic Games would be held ... baseball/softball would be a great part of the Olympic sports programme."

Tokyo will have five new sports - also including karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing - as the IOC looks to boost the Games' appeal among a younger audience.

Each host city can propose the inclusion of sports that are popular in their country for their own Games.

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